Norway’s King Harald returns home from Malaysia after hospitalisation

Norway’s King Harald landed in Oslo on Sunday after flying home from Malaysia on a medical evacuation plane, live television pictures showed.

The 87-year-old had been hospitalised for an infection while on a private trip in the resort island of Langkawi. He received a temporary pacemaker on Saturday.

Europe’s oldest reigning monarch was expected to be transferred to a hospital in Oslo.

“He will stay in the hospital for a few days for treatment and rest,” the royal household said in a statement on Sunday.

It was previously said the king was expected to be on sick leave for two weeks. Crown Prince Haakon has been presiding in his father’s absence.

The king was hospitalised in Malaysia for an infection during a private holiday in the northern resort island of Langkawi, the royal house said on Tuesday.

He underwent surgery at the Sultanah Maliha Hospital on Saturday to implant a temporary pacemaker due to a low heart rate, according to the royal house.

Norwegian media outlets said Harald travelled to Malaysia with his wife, Queen Sonja, to celebrate his 87th birthday.

King Harald, Norway’s ceremonial head of state since 1991, is Europe’s oldest living monarch. He has repeatedly been hospitalised with infections in recent years and has undergone heart surgery.

According to Norwegian news agency NTB, which cited information from Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, the king’s transport back to Norway will cost an estimated 2 million Norwegian kroner (US$190,000), which will be taken from the defence budget.

The ageing Norwegian monarch has suffered from frail health over the past few years, and has been admitted to hospital for treatment on numerous occasions.

Harald, who has been seen using crutches, had an operation to replace a heart